How to hire a test/quality engineer

How to hire a test/quality engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step test/quality engineer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a test/quality engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new test/quality engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a test/quality engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The test/quality engineer hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect test/quality engineer also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents test/quality engineer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Test/Quality Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Test/Quality Engineer		$29-49
   Software Tester	The responsibility of software testers involves the quality assurance of software development and deployment. Software testers conduct manual and automated tests to make sure that the software is developed for its purpose... Show more	$29-48
   Quality Assurance Consultant	A quality assurance consultant specializes in recommending and optimizing quality-control procedures ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. They typically conduct research and analysis to identify the strengths and weaknesses of current quality control operations, implement solutions on problem areas, review policies and regulations, and coordinate with other staff to gather necessary data, analyzing them to find new opportunities for improvement... Show more	$32-52

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Java
   • QA
   • Jira
   • C++
   • Qa Testing
   • Regression
   • Jenkins
   • Test Results
   • Test Scripts
   • PLC
   • Test Data
   • UI
   • Test Procedures
   • Api Testing

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Involve in identifying and executing regression test scenarios.
   • Perform basic level programming in VB.NET and XML.
   • Report bugs through JIRA and prepare bug status reports.
   • Set up functional test stations for Cisco routers and switches NPI.
   • Set up the test environment in Linux, windows, HPUX and AIX servers.
   • Report defects in JIRA and assign them to the development team and track them to closure.

   More test/quality engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your test/quality engineer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A test/quality engineer salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, test/quality engineers' average salary in alabama is 32% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level test/quality engineers earn 40% less than senior-level test/quality engineers.
   • Certifications. A test/quality engineer with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a test/quality engineer's salary.

   Average test/quality engineer salary

   $79,167yearly

   $38.06 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level test/quality engineer salary

   $61,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average test/quality engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$103,471	$50
   2	Maryland	$88,397	$43
   3	New York	$83,488	$40
   4	Washington	$83,388	$40
   5	Massachusetts	$81,748	$39
   6	New Jersey	$81,020	$39
   7	Alaska	$77,513	$37
   8	North Carolina	$75,364	$36
   9	Colorado	$74,478	$36
   10	Pennsylvania	$73,633	$35
   11	Illinois	$73,298	$35
   12	Texas	$72,786	$35
   13	Georgia	$71,166	$34
   14	Michigan	$71,069	$34
   15	Nebraska	$69,912	$34
   16	Ohio	$69,547	$33
   17	Missouri	$68,098	$33
   18	Kentucky	$66,788	$32
   19	Florida	$63,854	$31
   20	Oklahoma	$63,322	$30

   Average test/quality engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Google	$128,208	$61.64	360
   2	Walmart	$126,429	$60.78	183
   3	Amazon	$125,474	$60.32	448
   4	Chime	$113,420	$54.53	7
   5	GoPro	$113,139	$54.39
   6	Royal Bank of Canada	$109,470	$52.63	3
   7	Excellus BCBS	$102,565	$49.31	2
   8	Insurance Incorporated	$102,369	$49.22
   9	Magic Leap	$100,574	$48.35
   10	Tesla	$96,274	$46.29	48
   11	Mastercard	$94,196	$45.29	8
   12	Solectron Corp	$93,657	$45.03	38
   13	Viasat	$92,024	$44.24	9
   14	Ceres	$91,518	$44.00
   15	Randstad North America, Inc.	$91,270	$43.88	17
   16	MathWorks	$90,441	$43.48
   17	ADT Security Services	$89,920	$43.23
   18	Aditi Consulting	$89,820	$43.18	1
   19	Nes Holdings	$89,750	$43.15
   20	ITS - Internet Testing Systems	$89,437	$43.00

4. Writing a test/quality engineer job description

   A good test/quality engineer job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a test/quality engineer job description:

   Test/quality engineer job description example

   At ADT, we've been in the business of helping save lives for more than 145 years. As the number one smart home security provider serving residential and business customers, our people are our most important asset. Headquartered in Boca Raton, FL and at more than 200 locations across North America, our employees help empower our customers to live more secure and confident lives. Join our team and help us protect what matters most. For more information, visit www.adt.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
   
   This position is responsible for developing, testing, analyzing, and implementing core business-related security products and equipment. Specifically, the Quality Test Engineer must be experienced in manual testing and automated test tools. The successful candidate must be excited about quality and able to function independently. Previous experience in one or more of the following areas - cellular, Wi-Fi, intrusion products and peripherals, or video/access control testing experience and understanding of Best Practices and principles of testing are required for this position. Travel to Atlanta, GA required quarterly.
   Responsibilities & Qualifications:
   Specify, review and test products related to security and home automation, including but not limited to - control panels, peripheral devices, radio and IP communicators, video and access control products. Work closely with product providers to ensure designs incorporate all functionality as documented and required by ADT. Write test plans, cases, and conditions for manual testing of the application based on real world use cases. Develop and implement an automated functional/regression test architecture to replicate OEM standards for Certified Refurbished product certification. Manage new product recommendations into the Certified Refurbishment (CR) program using data analysis. Serve as Program Manager for the test plan development, field pilots, and national launch of CR. Items. Develop and review installation documentation for all technical personnel on new and existing equipment use and procedures. Perform special projects and other duties as assigned. Perform quarterly Quality Assurance Testing on CR finished goods, document testing results for functionality, cosmetic and packaging. Reporting regular status of testing. Document product defects, using a tracking system, and report defects to project team leaders and product developers. Plan test schedules or strategies in accordance with project scope or delivery dates. Test system modifications. Conduct historical analyses of test results. Create or maintain databases of known test defects. Design or develop automated testing tools. Investigate customer problems referred by technical support, drive corrective action with manufacturer or Reverse Supply Chain Provider Education / Work Experience Required:
   
   Education:BS in Electrical Engineering (or equivalent experience) required.
   
   Experience:
   Performing functional, stress, performance, and regression testing 3 - 5+ years of experience in security or home automation product development and/or Quality Assurance Familiarity with product design, development, analysis and testing in communications, security, and home automation products. Manual testing experience, an understanding of Best Practices and principals of testing Experience with various testing methodologies; familiarity with test plan design and implementation Experience with automated testing tools and with writing test plans and test cases Hands-on troubleshooting experience ADT LLC is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. We are committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce and do our best to foster a culture and environment where every employee feels valued. Our goal is to serve our customers and help save lives. We can achieve this goal when we have the best talent working in an environment where employees feel included and recognized. Visit us online at jobs.adt.com to learn more.
   
   #LI-REMOTE

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find test/quality engineers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your test/quality engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit test/quality engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit test/quality engineers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   While interviews are great, you will only sometimes learn enough from a conversation with a test/quality engineer applicant. In those cases, having candidates complete a test project can go a long way in figuring out who's the most likely to succeed in the role. If you aren't a technical person and don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new test/quality engineer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the test/quality engineer position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new test/quality engineer. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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